T
he General Secretariat of Public
Revenue is ready to face the challenges
of both the domestic and international
environment. It is monitoring developments, partic-
ipating in OECD and European Union forums, and
preparing its infrastructures in order to be able, not
only to receive the expected volume of information,
but also to send a similar volume of information to
the associated tax authorities. At the same time, it
is preparing the audit mechanism, in order to
ensure the appropriate and efficient utilisation of
the volume of data received through the automatic
exchange of information.
In the same vein, I believe that the challenge is
also great for businesses, which are called,
amidst such an environment, not only to cope
financially, but also to comply with their obliga-
tions; because the fight against tax evasion and
tax avoidance does not only benefit the state, by
protecting government revenues. It also benefits
the majority of businesses and other taxpayers
that actually pay their taxes. Tax evasion and tax
fraud, apart from the loss in government revenue,
also create severe distortions in competition
among businesses, which in turn give rise to
grievances among compliant taxpayers and busi-
nesses.
So, we are working towards that direction.
Our aim is to improve the collectability of taxes,
focusing our audits on concealed taxable
Trade with Greece
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I believe that no one disagrees that today, more
than ever, it is imperative for Greece to win the
bet of public revenue collection. Our concern is
to lay down the targets, priorities, and methods
that will enable the tax administration to
become more effective and realise its objectives.
The revenue bet
By George I. Pitsilis,
Secretary General of Public Revenue
